Wire Wash Brush and Cleaning Method

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure pertains to a wire wash brush with wire type tufts extending from a head and a handle. The brush can be connected to a water source at the handle of the brush, and when the water source is pressurized, water will flow through the handle of the brush, and out through the head of the brush, flowing through the wire type tufts. When the user wants to clean a paint brush, the user will connect the water source to the water connection via a hose and pressurize the water sources so that water flows through the channel extending through the brush body and through the plurality of micro channels, flowing water through the wire tufts. Once water is flowing through the wire wash brush, the user will grip the handle and run the wire tufts though the bristles of the paintbrush as water flows through the brush.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional application U.S. Ser.No. 62/297,416 filed Feb. 19, 2016. Said application is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and cleaningmethod for cleaning excess paint from a paint brush after use.

BACKGROUND

Cleaning paint from paintbrushes has historically been a time-consumingtask, and failure to properly clean paintbrushes results in unnecessarywaste in replacing brushes. If, after use, paint is not removed from thepaintbrushes and is allowed to dry, the bristles of the paintbrush maybecome stiff or stuck together thereby decreasing the utility andlifespan of the paintbrush.

Currently, paint brushes are often cleaned on a jobsite by hand runninga wire wash brush with stainless steel bristles through the paintbristles under a faucet of running water and oftentimes soap.Unfortunately, cleaning techniques such as running water through thepaintbrush, even with a wire wash brush, is not an efficient cleaningprocess on a worksite. Additionally, running a wire wash brush through apaint brush as water is flowing over the brush can be a messy process,as watered down paint will splatter off the wire wash brush andpaintbrush, requiring additional cleanup after cleaning the paintbrush.Furthermore, while higher pressure water is more effective at removingpaint from a paintbrush, the higher pressure water will cause additionalsplatter, and therefore, less likely to be used to clean the paint fromthe paintbrushes.

There have been a number of innovative approaches and inventionsintroduced to the market in previous years addressing paintbrushcleaning problems outlined above. The “paint brush cleaning funnel”outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,424 describes a funnel shaped devicefitted to a garden hose wherein a contaminated or used paintbrush can beinserted into the large diameter end of the funnel to a point wherepressurized water entering the funnel from the smaller end has to passup through the bristles performing the flushing action, thus carryingpaint and contaminants up and out of the large end of the funnel device.Although this device does address the desirability to be able to “flush”the bristle area with fresh water, the device does not allow the user tosee where paint remains on the paintbrush, thereby not allowing the userto focus on cleaning only the areas of the brush where paint remains,thereby making it less efficient.

The “Water Jet Spray Nozzle” outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,964 depictsa somewhat different approach wherein a series of jet spray nozzlesextending from a manifold type housing can be inserted directly into thebristles of a paint brush. However, a user would have to concern himselfwith the possibilities of traumatizing or damaging bristles with thedigging, poking and scraping action that would be required for thoroughflushing out of the problem areas.

A different approach to solving the paintbrush cleaning problem isoffered in U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,535 “Paint brush cleaning device” whereinthe invention provides for a single spray nozzle type probe to flushcontaminants from the bristles. In this invention there is potential foreffecting considerable bristle trauma or damage during cleaning. It isalso required the device be manually operated by the user to perform thecleaning procedure.

Furthermore U.S. Pat. App. No. 2006/0213544 discloses a paintbrushcleaning and flushing device arranged to interface with a commonhousehold garden hose for unattended cleaning of a paintbrush comprisesa hollow chamber formed by a clamshell enclosure for containment of apaintbrush containing an inlet side; wherein pressurized water entersthe enclosure, directing water flow through paintbrush bristles, and anoutlet side providing for a series of exit holes for paint contaminatedwater to exit clamshell enclosure. While this device allows forunattended paintbrush cleaning, it is not a useful tool if the paintersdo not have multiple paint brushes, and still requires the painter tomonitor the tool and shut off water when cleaning is complete, therebylimiting its effectiveness as a “unattended” cleaning tool.

Therefore, a need exists for a novel tool and cleaning method thatfacilitates the cleaning of paint applicators such as paint brushes andthe like in a more efficient manner than the prior arts.

SUMMARY

To accomplish this object, a wire wash brush with wire type tuftsextending from a head and a handle. The brush can be connected to awater source at the handle of the brush, and when the water source ispressurized, water will flow through the handle of the brush, and outthrough the head of the brush, flowing through the wire type tufts.

The brush body has a proximal end and a distal end, the brush bodycomprising: a head on the distal end of the brush body; a handle on theproximal end of the brush body; and a plurality of wire type tufts mayextend downwardly from a bottom surface of the head. The wire type tuftsform rows along the head on the distal end of the brush body with spacesbetween the rows.

A connection at the proximal end of the brush body has a connection fora water source. A channel travels longitudinally through the brush fromthe connection at the proximal end of the brush body, through the brushbody, where the channel ends at the head on the distal end of the brushbody. Within the brush head, and connected to the channel extendingthrough the brush body, are a plurality of micro channels which travelperpendicularly downward from the longitudinal channel and extend to thebottom surface of the head between the rows of wire tufts.

When the user wants to clean a paint brush, the user will connect thewater source to the water connection via a hose, and pressurize thewater sources so that water flows through the channel extending throughthe brush body and through the plurality of micro channels, flowingwater through the wire tufts.

Once water is flowing through the wire wash brush, the user will gripthe handle and run the wire tufts though the bristles of the paintbrushas water flows through the brush. The cleaning method of flowing waterthrough the head of the brush has several advantages over the priorarts, including: 1) reducing splatter during the cleaning process, 2)more uniform delivery of water to the brush bristles reduces cleaningtime, and 3) more effective cleaning method conserves water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view drawing of the wire wash brush;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view drawing of the wire washbrush;

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view drawings of the wire wash brushdepicting tuft configuration and nozzle placement;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view drawings of the wire wash brush;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional drawing of the wire wash brush;

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view depicting the flow of water and thespray configuration of the nozzles in the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As depicted in the figures, the wire wash brush of the present inventioncomprises the following primary components: a brush handle 1, a brushhead 2, and wire type tufts 3.

The brush handle 1 has a proximal end 4 and a distal end 5, the distalend 5 of the brush handle 1 connected to the proximal end 6 of the brushhead 2; and a water connection 8 at the proximal end 4 of the brushhandle 1. A handle channel 9 travels longitudinally through the brushhandle 1 from the water connection 8 at the proximal end 4 of the brushhandle 1, through the brush handle 1 through a valve 10 located at thedistal end 5 of the brush handle 1.

The brush handle 1, a brush head 2 may be formed of any material and inany manner known of a person of skill in the art. In the preferredembodiment, the brush handle 1, a brush head 2 are constructed of moldedthermoplastic polymers.

The valve is integrated into the brush handle 1 so that the valve body21 and valve flow path are aligned with the handle channel 9, and thevalve actuator 22 is located outside of the brush handle 1. The crossdimensional area of the flow path of the valve 10 should be the same asthe cross dimensional area of the handle channel 9 so that flow is notimpeded when the valve 10 is fully opened. The actuator 22 causes thecross dimensional area of the flow path to change from 0% open to 100%open. When the cross dimensional area of the flow path is 100% open, thecross dimensional area of the flow path will be equal to the crossdimensional area of the handle channel 9.

The valve 10 has a valve member that is a movable obstruction inside thevalve body that adjustably causes the cross dimensional area of the flowpath to change from 0% open to 100% open. The valve member is connectedto the actuator 22 by a valve stem. Depending on the type of valve, avalve member can move linearly inside a valve, or rotate on the stem (asin a ball or butterfly valve).

The valve 10 provides two useful features to the wire wash brush. First,the existence of the valve 10 in the wire wash brush allows water to beturned on and shut off quickly and easily, making the cleaning methodmore efficient, and allowing multiple brushes to be utilized from asingle hose bib, with a manifold. Secondly, the valve 10 serves tocontrol the water pressure flowing through the nozzles 18 in the brushhead 2. The more the valve 10 is opened, the greater the pressure, andthe less the valve 10 is opened, the lower the pressure. This allows theuser to vary the water pressure based on the type of brush beingcleaned, and the type of latex or water based paint used. For example, awater based paint may need very little pressure, as the paint dissolvesin the water, however, for a heavy latex paint, a greater pressure maybe desired, to help impinge the paint off the brush.

In the preferred embodiment, the valve 10 is a ball style valve. Theball style valve is the preferred valve due to its effectiveness atvarying flow control through the valve, and cost effectiveness. Othervalves known to those skilled in the art, such as gate valves could beused as well.

In the preferred embodiment, the water connection 8 is a standard hoseconnection for a typical lawn and garden hose. This connection wasselected as for the preferred embodiment due to the likelihood of agarden hose being available at most jobsites for cleaning, making it themost versatile option. However, this water connection 8 could be anynumber of diverse types of water connectors known to those skilled inthe art, including hose barbs and quick-connects.

The brush head 2 has a proximal end 6 and a distal end 7, the proximalend 6 of the brush head 2 is connected to the distal end 5 of the brushhandle 1 at the connection point 13. A head channel 12 travelslongitudinally through the brush head 2 from the connection point 13 atthe proximal end 6 of the brush head 2, through the brush head 2, endingat the distal end of the brush head 7. When the brush head 2 isconnected to the brush handle 1, the head channel 12 and the handlechannel 9 form a continuous flow path between the water connection 8 andthe ending at the distal end 7 of the brush head 2, when the valve 10 isopen.

A plurality of wire type tufts 3 extend downwardly from a bottom surface14 of the head 2. The wire type tufts 3 form rows 15 along the bottomsurface 14 of the head 2 aligned longitudinally along the head 2, withspaces 16 between the rows 15. In the preferred embodiment, the wiretufts 3 are constructed of stainless steel, for durability and rustresistance, however, the tufts 3 could be constructed of any number ofmaterials known to those skilled in the art, including brass, aluminum,and nylon.

Within the brush head 2, and connected to the head channel 12, are aplurality of micro channels 17 which travel perpendicularly downwardfrom the head channel 12 and extend to the bottom surface 14 of the head1 into the spaces 16 between the rows 15 of wire tufts 3

Located at the ends of the micro channels 17, in the preferredembodiment nozzles 18 will be located. In the preferred embodiment, thenozzles 18 are fan pattern aligned with the spaces 16 between the rows15 of wire tufts 3, which allow maximum impingement with the water,while minimizing the need for nozzles 18. While other nozzle patterswould be known to those skilled in the art, other nozzle patterns wouldlikely need more micro channels 17 and nozzles 18, which could increasethe overall cost of the wire wash brush.

In the preferred embodiment, the aggregate cross-sectional area of allof the nozzle openings 20 combined should be less than thecross-sectional area of the head channel 12. Sizing the nozzle openings20 so that aggregate cross-sectional area of all of the nozzle openings20 combined is less than the cross sectional area of the head channel 12ensures that there is back pressure in the brush head 2, so that waterpressure from each of the nozzles 18 is uniform.

When the user wants to clean a paint brush, the user will connect thewater source to the water connection 8 via a hose, close the valve 10,and pressurize the water source so that water flows through the handchannel 12, stopping at the valve 10. The user can slowly open the valve10 to the desired water pressure so that the brush effectively removespaint from the paintbrush, but does not cause splatter on the user, andrun the wire tufts 3 though the bristles of the paintbrush as waterflows through the wire wash brush. As the nozzles 18 are flanked on thesides by the wire tufts 3, water spray 19 will be largely containedwithin the head 2 of the brush, thereby significantly reducing splatterduring the paintbrush cleaning process.

The cleaning method of flowing water through the head of the brush hasseveral advantages over the prior arts, including: 1) reducing splatterduring the cleaning process, 2) more uniform delivery of water to thebrush bristles reduces cleaning time, and 3) more effective cleaningmethod conserves water.

It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changesand modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention. All suchmodifications and changes are intended to be covered by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of removing paint from the bristles of asoiled paint brush comprising: providing a brush with a brush handle, abrush head, a hose connector on the brush handle, a valve with a fluidpassageway integrated into the brush handle, a main passagewaytravelling laterally through the brush from the hose connector, thoughthe brush handle, the valve fluid passageway, into the brush head, andterminating in the head of the brush; said brush having a plurality ofwire type tufts extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the head;said brush having a plurality of micro passageways located in the brushhead extending downwardly from the main passageway to the bottom surfaceof the head; said brush having nozzles located in the plurality of micropassageways; said valve having an actuator with variable positionsintegrated into the valve that enables a cross dimensional area of thevalve fluid passageway to change from 0% open to 100% open; providing awater source which can be turned on and off, said water source being inthe off position; connecting the water source to the hose connector onthe brush handle with a hose; moving the actuator into a position wherethe valve fluid passageway to change is 0% open; turning the watersource on; using the actuator, open the valve fluid passageway to apoint between 0% open to 100% open so that water travels from the watersource through the main passageway and ejects from the brush headthrough the nozzles; while water is ejecting through the brush headnozzles, run the plurality of wire type tufts through the bristles of apaint brush soiled with paint; once the paint has been removed from thebristles of the paint brush using the actuator to close the valve fluidpassageway to 0% open.
 2. The method of removing paint from the bristlesof a soiled paint brush of claim 1 wherein the plurality of wire typetufts are oriented into linear rows aligned longitudinally along thehead of the brush with linear rows of spaces aligned longitudinallyalong the head between the linear rows of wire tufts.
 3. The method ofremoving paint from the bristles of a soiled paint brush of claim 2wherein the nozzles are oriented between the linear rows of wire typetufts.
 4. The method of removing paint from the bristles of a soiledpaint brush of claim 3 wherein the nozzles emit water in a fan patternand the fan pattern is aligned between the linear rows of spaces alignedlongitudinally along the head.
 5. A paintbrush cleaning apparatuscomprising: a brush handle, brush head, a hose connector on the brushhandle, a valve with a fluid passageway integrated into the brushhandle, a main passageway travelling laterally through the brush fromthe hose connector, though the brush handle, the valve fluid passageway,into the brush head, and terminating in the head of the brush; saidbrush having a plurality of wire type tufts extending downwardly from abottom surface of the head; said brush having a plurality of micropassageways located in the brush head extending downwardly from the mainpassageway to the bottom surface of the head; said brush having nozzleslocated in the plurality of micro passageways; said valve having anactuator with variable positions integrated into the valve that enablesa cross dimensional area of the valve fluid passageway to change from 0%open to 100% open;
 6. The paintbrush cleaning apparatus of claim 5wherein the plurality of wire type tufts are oriented into linear rowsaligned longitudinally along the head of the brush with linear rows ofspaces aligned longitudinally along the head between the linear rows ofwire tufts.
 7. The paintbrush cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein thenozzles are oriented between the linear rows of wire type tufts.
 8. Thepaintbrush cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the nozzles emit waterin a fan pattern and the fan pattern is aligned between the linear rowsof spaces aligned longitudinally along the head.